SFPA issues Fishery Information Notice regarding landing and prior notification requirements of Irish fishing vessels. The Sea–Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) issued a revised Fishery Information Notice (FIN) (FFSU-FC-FIN-OC-01-23 Landing and Prior Notification Requirements of Irish FVs V1 ) on the 14th April 2023, setting out the landing and prior notification requirements of Irish fishing vessels. This FIN replaces FIN 1 of 2021 ‘Landing and Prior Notification Requirements of Irish Fishing Vessels’. One of the main changes of this FIN was the removal of Port of Cork and Rathmullan as designated ports for the landings of certain pelagic species greater than 10 tonnes. Additional changes have been made, including the addition of a map showing the designated ports around Ireland, and details of the Authorisation to Discharge form.
The key elements of the FIN specify that:
- The master of an Irish fishing vessel is required to land into a designated port when required by their fishing authorisation.
- The discharge of any catches of certain pelagic species, namely mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting, and herring, in excess of 10 tonnes, must not commence until expressly authorised by the SFPA. The authorisation to discharge will be granted by a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer (SFPO) upon landing, prior to discharge.
Masters of Irish fishing vessels are required to submit a prior notification of arrival (PNO) into port in the following circumstances:
- In line with the specific authorisations issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) to licence holders, the Master of an Irish fishing vessel with more than 10 tonnes of certain pelagic species (mackerel, horse mackerel, herring, and blue whiting) on board is required to submit a PNO to the Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC), at least four hours prior to entry to a designated port. Landings of more than 10 tonnes of certain pelagic species are required to be landed into a designated port.
- In terms of Demersal Stocks Subject to Multiannual Plans (Article 17 (EC) 1224/2009), Masters of Irish fishing vessels 12 metres in length overall or more, which operate electronic logbooks known as Electronic Recording & Reporting Systems (ERS) and are engaged in fishing stocks subject to multiannual plans, are required to submit a PNO at least four hours in advance of the estimated time of arrival into port.
- Masters of any Irish fishing vessel with 150kg or more of Monkfish on board are required to provide notice of their intention to enter a port or landing place at least four hours prior to entry, electronically, in writing or by telephone to the FMC.
For Deep Sea Species (Article 12 (EU) 2016/2336), Masters of an Irish fishing vessel intending to land 100kg or more of deep-sea species are required to submit a PNO to the FMC at least four hours prior to entry to a designated port. Vessels of 12 metres in length overall or less are required to submit a PNO at least one hour prior to entry to a designated port. When required by their fishing authorisation.
For further details please contact sfpafood&fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie